UPSL’s Tennessee Realignment

Philip Farrell
2 days ago
10 min read

Updated: 11 minutes ago

The nine clubs of UPSL Premier KY-TN this fall. Clockwise from top-left Morazan ZLA, Tennessee Tempo, Ash Gold, Scenic City, Chattanooga FC II, Cleveland United, Chattanooga Red Wolves II, Tennessee United, and Chattanooga Kaistorms. Individual images courtesy of the clubs.

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The United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) have announced the composition and Fall schedule for a new-look KY-TN conference within its Premier Division. While the ‘KY’ still features in the name, there’s no Kentucky-based clubs in the conference anymore, with all nine teams representing Tennessee. Four sides already members of the KY-TN in Spring (Morazan ZLA, Tennessee Tempo, and Tennessee United from the greater Nashville area and the Kaistorms from Chattanooga), are joined by a new Nashville-adjacent club (Ash Gold) as well as four sides moving across from the Georgia North Conference (Hamilton County-based sides Scenic City, Chattanooga FC II, and the Red Wolves II, and nearby Cleveland United).

It makes for an exciting and interesting conference, and one that will crucially involve far less travel time and expense for teams and athletes. It also provides for more local derbies and rivalries, with four teams from greater Nashville and five from in-and-around Chattanooga going head-to-head.

These are nine unique clubs, with different cultures, missions, and journeys. Join me as we get to know them better.

Ash Gold FC

Founded: 2026

Head Coach: Kwadwo Poku

Home ground: Rocket Stadium, Rockvale, TN

2026 Spring Finish: n/a

Spring record: n/a

The Conference’s newest side. Ash Gold Football Club is the brainchild of former NYCFC midfielder Kwadwo Poku, who will be the Head Coach. Poku was previously associated with Tennessee Tempo so it will be interesting to see what effect the existence of Ash Gold has on Tempo’s roster build this season. The club’s stated mission is to build “a pathway centered on player development, meaningful exposure and legitimate opportunities for evaluation and advancement”. This suggests that player development is their primary focus, rather than fan-facing activities. Gold will also field a reserve side in the First Division KY-TN.

If they were an EPL club they’d be: Coventry City. New to the league but guided by a legendary midfielder who will hope to cause upsets.

Chattanooga FC II

Founded: 2025

Head Coach: TBD

Home ground: Montague Park, Chattanooga, TN

2026 Spring Finish: 1st in Division One Georgia North

Spring record: 9-1-0, Georgia Finalists

Chattanooga FC first entered their reserves into UPSL last Fall, but the side was known as Chattanooga FC U20 until this Fall season in 2026. In Spring John Miglarese’s side finished the regular season undefeated and as North Georgia First Division Champions. They were eventually defeated in the full conference final by Lake Country United. The first roots of pathway at CFC were established last February when U20 players JJ Grimaldo, Rene Rodriguez and Luke Rosellini trained with the senior team. In May, Austin Bradley signed an amateur player agreement with CFC, a first of its kind in club history, and trained with the seniors.

One of the most eye-catching aspects of this new KY-TN conference is that it will represent the first time that Chattanooga Football Club and the Chattanooga Red Wolves organizations will participate in the same league. At senior level the two sides have met just once, in the 2025 US Open Cup. The history between these sides is well documented and could make for fascinating ties between them, especially if fans decide to show up in numbers.

This Fall, CFC II will primarily play at their Montague Park base, but will also host two matches at the UTC Sports Campus. Due to their being an odd number of teams in KY-TN this Fall, CFC II will have a bye week the first weekend of fixtures and won’t kick-off its season until it visits Tennessee Tempo on September 12.

If they were an EPL club they’d be: Ipswich Town. Recently promoted but with a prestige and historic name attached to their badge. With the right investment, well capable of competing in the top-flight.

Chattanooga Kaistorms FC

Founded: 2025

Head Coach: Kwame Appiah

Home ground: Buccaneer Stadium, Chattanooga, TN

2026 Spring Finish: 2nd in Premier Division KY-TN

Spring record: 8-0-4, KY-TN Semi-Finalists

The Kaistorms were one of two sides that grew out of the Chattanooga United team that played in 2024-25. One was Scenic City SC (more on them below) who entered the Georgia divisions, while the other was the Kaistorms. This Fall they’ll face each other for the first time. The Kaistorms are likely the biggest benefactor of the new alignment, in terms of logistics, since they go from being the sole Chattanooga-based KY-TN side to now being joined by four teams within a 30 minute drive.

In Spring, the club went 8-0-4 and finished second behind the Tempo. In the playoffs, they lost 1-0 at home to Tennessee United in the conference Semi-Finals.

Traditionally, the Kaistorms have had strong ties with the Red Wolves (below), and seemed to act as a proto-II team before that organization set up the Red Wolves II last year. Seeing them go up against one another now will be a curious watch, especially as there’s still a few former Red Wolves players (Nicholas Amponsah and Lucas Talley) in the Kaistorms squad.

If they were an EPL club they’d be: Newcastle United. A potential powerhouse not shy of bringing in some big names and who play nice football, but are often overlooked by the punters.

Chattanooga Red Wolves II

Founded: 2025

Head Coach: Greg Warden

Home ground: Camp Jordan, East Ridge, TN

2026 Spring Finish: 1st in Premier Division Georgia North

Spring record: 8-0-2, Georgia North Finalists

Red Wolves II is the latest iteration of the organization’s work on bridging the gap to its senior team. The Utah (formerly Park City) Red Wolves still play out in Salt Lake in USL League Two while there was previously a Dalton Red Wolves in USL League Two across the border in North Georgia that was wound up in 2023.

As mentioned above, the Red Wolves will meet Chattanooga FC II in league play for the first time, promising some tasty match-ups. But the prospect of them facing the Kaistorms brings its own intrigue, given the overlap in players historically. Not to mention the rivalry with Scenic City SC which, in the Spring season just finished, gave us some real battles.

In Spring, the Red Wolves topped the competitive Premier Division Georgia North conference, went past Scenic City SC on penalties in the Semi-Finals but then lost on penalties to LSA Mustangs in the conference Final. It was a tough end for a side that really grew into the season. There’s a strong player pathway to the first team with Alexis Plaza, Riley Binns, Austin Montoya, and Tristan Torres all training with and making the bench for the seniors so far this season and winger Nathan Donoho making six first team appearances.

If they were an EPL club they’d be: Manchester City. Backed by strong investment and a desire to play ruthless, efficient football. Can dominate if they play to their strengths.

Cleveland United FC

Founded: 2025

Head Coach: Thomas Bayliss

Home ground: Bear Stadium, Cleveland, TN

2026 Spring Finish: 4th in Division One Georgia North

Spring record: 5-2-3, Georgia Quarter-Finalists

Unlike a lot of other teams here which were set up as outlets for academies or player pathway programs, Cleveland United is unique in that it is the most community/fan-facing club on this list. Co-founder Albert Murza and his team set up CUFC as a club for the community of Cleveland to come and watch. Cleveland is a small city that hasn’t had a local team to root for since Minor League Baseball’s Cleveland Manufacturers were wound up in 1922. Games at Bear stadium are very fan-facing with merchandise, concessions, and food trucks on site and make for a pleasant game day atmosphere. It's exciting to see what this club can do at Premier Division level and for any readers who are thinking of taking in UPSL games this Fall, Bear Stadium should be high on the list. Cleveland will also field a reserve side in the First Division KY-TN.

Head Coach Thomas Bayliss likes to play attractive football and the team isn’t short of entertainers. Spring 2026 was the club’s first season and they went 5-2-3 in Division One’s Georgia North Conference, coming in fourth place before falling 3-2 away to Middle Georgia United in the Georgia Quarter-Finals.

If they were an EPL club they’d be: Bournemouth. More geographically isolated than their rivals but a fine community club that does so much with what they have. Room for growth in their exclusive catchment area.

Morazan ZLA FC

Founded: 2025

Head Coach: TBD

Home ground: Rose Park, Nashville, TN

2026 Spring Finish: 7th in Premier Division KY-TN

Spring record: 2-3-7

Morazan ZLA joined the UPSL Premier Division KY-TN in August of 2025 and have been there since. The most centrally located of the Nashville sides, Morazan plays out of Rose Park, a mere 2 miles from GEODIS Park and downtown. Morazan will also field a reserve side in the First Division KY-TN.

In the Spring, they finished second-last in KY-TN, ahead of Pumas Premier (who seem to have exited the league). I believe Morazan will be playing under a new coach this Fall, so we might see a different Morazan from the one that played in Spring.

If they were an EPL club they’d be: Crystal Palace. Might struggle with some strong new teams coming in.

Scenic City SC

Founded: 2024

Head Coach: Michael Clow

Home ground: CSLA, Chattanooga, TN

2026 Spring Finish: 4th in Premier Division Georgia North

Spring record: 5-2-3, Georgia North Semi-Finalists

If there was a side in this division that has the most positive vibes and team culture, it might be Scenic City. Founder and former Head Coach Josh Luff has fostered a sporting mentality built on integrity in his players, of which there’s a solid and steady core who have played for him across several seasons. The team will now be coached this Fall by their former captain, Michael Clow with Luff remaining in an assistant coaching capacity.

Scenic City were fairly strong in a super competitive Georgia North in the Spring, a season so tough that traditional powerhouse Potros could only come fifth. Scenic City ended in fourth, the victim of some bad luck and strong late season form of others around them. Like the Red Wolves, they’re coming out of a tough conference, so I want to see how they look against the KY-TN stalwarts. Scenic City went out of the Georgia North playoffs on penalties at the Red Wolves.

And while Luff isn’t keen on rivalries and negative connotations that can go with them, I am excited to see more games between his side and the Red Wolves II. Last season those matches were some of the best in Georgia North. Coming up against the Kaistorms, a club they share some lineage with will also be intriguing.

If they were an EPL club they’d be: Liverpool. Better than they showed last season and a club that fosters a positive culture with a team that plays for one another with a keen sense of sportsmanship.

Tennessee Tempo FC

Founded: 2021

Head Coach: Gift Ndam

Home ground: Siegel High School, Murfreesboro, TN

2026 Spring Finish: 1st place in UPSL Premier KY-TN

Spring record: W11-D1-L0, National Round of 16

Possibly the most recognizable and storied team in the Conference (if you ignore CFC II and Red Wolves II’s links to their senior sides). Tempo began in 2021 under the name Beaman United FC. Founded by Head Coach Gift Ndam and former NYCFC midfielder Kwadwo Poku, who returned to the Nashville area after his professional career, the Tempo have made headlines mainly due to their US Open Cup runs. The most significant of these was their 1-0 win over the Red Wolves (the senior team) in the First Round of the Cup earlier this year. They then ran Chattanooga FC close, losing by only one goal in Round Two.

Unbeaten in the Spring, they marched all the way to the National Playoffs, beating Georgia South powerhouse Kalonji before losing to SCU Heat in the Round of 16.This is a serious and menacing side that usually gets recruitment right and has earned a name and a brand that can attract the best talent at this level. How they fare this Fall will be one of the key things to watch. With strong Georgia North sides like the Red Wolves II and Scenic City SC entering the conference, as well as a potentially well resourced and talented CFC II, will the Tempo be able to hold on to their recent hegemony in KY-TN? The emergence of Poku’s Ash Gold offers another intriguing challenge. Will the new upstarts siphon talent away from the masters?

Tempo will also field a reserve side in the First Division KY-TN.

Will need to balance their Fall season against their US Open Cup qualification campaign. Tempo plays Tennessee United in the First Qualifying Round on September 13.

If they were an EPL club they’d be: Arsenal. The team to beat!

Tennessee United SC

Founded: 2004

Head Coach: John Ferguson

Home ground: Drakes Creek Park, Hendersonville, TN

2026 Spring Finish: 3rd place in UPSL Premier KY-TN

Spring record: 6-2-4, KY-TN Finalists

Quite possibly the largest organization in the Conference, Tennessee United is an enormous soccer program with teams from under 5s, through USYS, ECNL, UPSL, and the WPSL. Formed in 2004, TUSC first entered a side into the UPSL in 2025. They’ve enjoyed status as one of the stronger sides in KY-TN over the last few campaigns and will also now be challenged by the arrival of strong sides from further South.

In Spring, TUSC finished 3rd behind Tempo and the Kaistorms but defeated the latter 1-0 away in the playoff Semi-Finals. They went on to lose to Tempo in the KY-TN final on penalties. They also made it to the Third Qualifying Round of the US Open Cup last year.

Will need to balance their Fall season against their US Open Cup qualification campaign. TUSC plays TN Tempo in the First Qualifying Round on September 13.

If they were an EPL club they’d be: Tottenham Hotspur. A competitive league and Cup side, but one that will need to show they can remain competitive this season, with exciting new teams coming in.

Opening Fixtures*

Saturday, September 5

19:00 - Tennessee United SC v Chattanooga Red Wolves II

Drakes Creek Park, Hendersonville, TN

19:00 - Scenic City SC v Ash Gold FC

CSLA, Chattanooga, TN

Sunday, September 6

14:00 - Cleveland United FC v Tennessee Tempo FC

Bear Stadium, Cleveland, TN

18:00 - Morazan ZLA FC v Chattanooga Kaistorms FC

Rose Park, Nashville, TN

* times EDT

The National Soccer Network (NSN) will be providing in-depth coverage of the KY-TN conference this Fall, with match previews, player and coach interviews, and match reports charting the course of an exciting season to come.